Healthy heart assessments will be offered at St. John's women's Heart Center, St. John's Northwest Health Services, St. John's Fitness Center - Nixa and St. John's Clinic - Cardiology - Branson. Exams cost $25 and include a cardiac risk assessment, blood pressure and pulse readings, full lead resting EKG and pocket EKG wallet card.

A $50 Level I assessment is available at St. John's Women's Heart Center, 1235 E. Cherokee in Springfield and includes all of the above plus a one-hour individual consult with a health educator and a comprehensive printed report.

An $80 Level II couples/buddy assessment, available at St. John's Women's Heart Center, is the same as a Level I assessment, but provides a discounted rate for bringing your spouse, friend, mom or other special person.

On Feb. 8, St. John's will crown a King & Queen of Hearts at the 15th annual ceremony that recognizes the cardiac patient and his or her support person who has made the most significant lifestyle changes following a cardiac event. A reception for candidates, their families and cardiopulmonary rehab staff begins at 4:30 pm followed by a program and crowning at 5 p.m. at St. John's Hammons Heart Institute, 1235 E. Cherokee.

On Feb. 12, the 5K Valentine Run benefiting patients and progress of St. John's Heart Institute will go underground again. St. John's Foundation for Community Health, Springfield Underground and Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners organize the race, which makes two loops of the roadways. Registration is already full, but media is invited to attend. Please contact John Griesemer at 417- 874-1400 for details.

On Feb. 15, women are invited to a special women's health forum: "Matters of the heart….a heart-healthy evening with your sweetie!"
This just-for-couples evening will combine a little bit of romance with a lot of heart healthy information and activities, such as cooking demonstrations, massage & relaxation, and heart risk assessments. There will be a variety of heart healthy activities and talks offered that evening. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Hammons Heart Institute Auditorium, 1235 E. Cherokee and includes the a discussion on humor, communication and intimacy.

St. John's will also host a free educational seminar featuring nationally recognized motivational speaker Robert Sweetgall 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Hammons Heart Institute Auditorium.

Sweetgall is America's leading advocate of Walking-for-Wellness and the only person to have trekked through all 50 states - covering 11,208 miles in 365 straight days. Author of 17 books, Robert is an authority on how walking can make a difference in your health. He has appeared on NBC Today, CBS Morning News, NPR, and many other talk shows. More than 5000 schools, hospitals, corporations and communities have benefited from Robert's help in launching active living/wellness programs.

For appointment and registration information about Healthy Heart Exams, call 1-800-909-TEAM or 1-800-909-8326.


For media information, please contact St. John's Media Relations at (417) 820-2426.